NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. — If you are a Middlesex County resident who is concerned about the environment, now is the time to learn how to reduce waste and improve soil, all in your own backyard. By attending one of our free composting seminars, you’ll learn about all the benefits of composting yard waste and kitchen scraps.

These free events are being held at the Middlesex County EARTH Center in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave., South Brunswick. Classes run about two hours.

Vermi-Composting (using worms)
6:30 p.m., Oct. 17

Backyard Composting
10 a.m., Oct. 21

Please call the Middlesex County Office of Solid Waste Management at 732-745-4170 or e-mail solidwaste@co.middlesex.nj.us to register for these free workshops.

Workshop attendees may also pick up pre-purchased compost bins at the workshops. Call the Solid Waste Office before the workshop for a list of available compost bins.

The backyard composting seminar will introduce the basics of collecting kitchen scraps and yard waste in a compost bin, and allowing the natural breakdown to create compost. If you do not have a yard of your own, you can still learn about composting and benefit from it at the second workshop, which teaches vermi-composting. In this process, the breakdown of waste is performed by worms in a plastic container.

“I encourage residents to attend one of these informative events,” said Freeholder Kenneth Armwood, Chair of the County’s Business Development and Education Committee. “Keeping conservation in mind today will ensure that the County remains a beautiful and healthy place to live.”

“These workshops present simple but very effective ways to help residents eliminate waste while creating a resource that gives back to the environment,” said Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios.

For more information on programs offered by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, call 732-398-5260.

— Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County